Many Muslims worldwide either support or adopt religious veiling yet public debate about the veil frequently throws up a number of concerns, from questions of health and freedom of choice to issues of gender and personal identity.

Journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Refusing the Veil) argues that veiling oppresses feminism, distorts Muslim values and strips women of autonomy and individuality. She debates the issue with journalist and commentator Mona Eltahawy (Headscarves and Hymens) along with Hassan Mahamdallie (co-director of the Muslim Institute, an expert on race and diversity) and Salma Yaqoob (head of the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and a spokesperson for Birmingham Central Mosque) . Chaired by the BBC News' Home Editor, Mark Easton.